Automatic fire extinguisher



April 2, 1946. D, c. SOPER 2,397,761

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISI IER Filed June 10'. 1944 ll/lil H 5 J 5 l 15. J 4 I L 34' F 4 w. 4 I I gnaw $01 Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC FIRE nxrmeursnaa- Donald C. Soper, Los Angeles, Calif. Application June 10, 1944, Serial No. 539,613 Claims- (01.169-2) My invention relates to automatic fire extinguis'hers for moving picture projectors, and among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a fire extinguisher adapted to be readily installed on a conventional motion picture projector, and which is designed to introduce a fire extinguishing fluid into the projector mechanism in the event that the film thereon should catch fire.

Second, to provide a fire extinguisher of this class wherein the fire extinguishing fluid is not under pressure until the extinguisher is caused to operate, but instead pressure is applied to the fire extinguishing fluid simultaneously with discharge of the fluid. 7

Third, to provide a fire extinguisher of this class which, by reason of the fact that the fire extinguishing fluid is under no pressure when not in operation, is capable of remaining idle for long periods of time without loss of fluid.

Fourth, to provide a fire extinguisher of this class which in no manner interferes with the operation and maintenance of the moving picture projector.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the'specification proceeds, reference being directed to the accompanying draw-' ing, in which: I

. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a moving picture projector with my fire extinguisher shown thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the projector, partially in side elevation and partially in section, showing my fire extinguisher in position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through 33 of Fig, 2 taken through the housing of the projector mechanism and showing the relation of the fusible link and discharge valve of m fire extinguisher, the discharge valve and; adjacent parts being shown in section, whereas the fusible link and its associated parts are in elevation. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the projector, with my fire extinguisher shown partially in sectionand partially in elevation, the section being taken. substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the relationship of the valve and the fusible link.

My fire extinguisher is adapted to be installed on any of the conventional moving picture projectors and such projectors include a housing I indicated fragmentarily in the drawing. The housing is provided with an upward extension or a separate adapter housing 2 which is mounted on top of the housing Land supports a reel case 3 which contains a reel on which is wound film 4. The film 4 feeds downwardl through a slot inthe periphery of the reel case and into the adapter housing 2, Here guide sprockets 5 engage the film. The film continues downwardly into the housing I and around an upper drive sprocket 6 and into a guide 1 forming a part of the intermittent mechanism used to position the film, a frame at a time, in registry with the projection apparatus (not shown).

' My fire extinguisher is mounted on the rear side of the reel case and is adapted to discharge a fire extinguishing fluid into the housing I in the event that the film should catch fire. A reservoir H in the form of a vertical tube closed at its ends, is secured by attachment straps I2 at its upper and lower ends to the rear side of the reel case 3. A flexible tube l3 extends from the lower end of the reservoir and is provided with a fitting It so that it may be secured in a convenient wall of the housing I or adapter housing 2. In the illustration the fitting is shown as mounted in the adapter housing. The fitting l4 forms a valve seat I5 which is closed by a conically shaped valve member 16 located within the adapter housing, The valve member is mounted on one arm of a lever I1 which extends laterally from the valve, then vertically along the side wall of the adapter housing, and is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a pin l8. The other or remaining end of the lever I! is attached to a cable I9 which is threaded through a guide 20 likewise supported from the side .wall of the adapter housing 2. The cable [9 is secured to a fusible link 2| positioned over the loop of film passing around the drive sprocket 5 and into the guide 1 so as to be fully'exposed to the heat generated by the film should it catch fire. In this connection it should be noted that virtually the only portion of the film in any danger from fire, is that portion which is passing through the intermittent mechanism and subjected to the heat incidental to the focused beam of light directed against the film.

The remaining end of the fusible link is connected to an arm 22 which projects laterally through the adapter housing 2 and is attached to one arm of a bell crank lever 28 journalled intermediate its ends by a bracket 24 provided at the lower end of the reservoir I I. The other or horizontal arm of the bell crank 23 is joined to a connecting rod 25 which extends upwardly along the side of the reservoir I I, and is pivotally connected to a latch lever 26. The latch lever is journalled intermediate its ends by an upstanding yoke 21 provided at the upper end of the reservoir I I.

Within the reservoir I l is a plunger 28 to which is attached a stem 29 extending upwardly through a guide formed in the upper end of the reservoir. The protruding portion of the stem 29 is provided with'a notch 30 adapted'to be engaged by the latch lever 26 so as to hold the plunger 28 in its upper. position. within themreservoir .l I. upper end: ofitheplunger stem i's 'pro'videdf with a cross head 3| to the extremities of which are springs 32.

tached to lugs 33 projecting laterally from an the reservoir l I.

Operation of the fire extinguishen'isr-asfollows: The reservoir H and flexible tube or conduite I3 are filled with a fire extinguishing fluid'such .as. carbon tetrachloride; The. plunger 2.8wis 'held inii-ts: upperpositionbyv the latch lever 26;. and the: latch .leveris' .in turns-held in'positionibythe mechanical; linkage. comprising. the. connecting rod 25, :bell crank lever .23: andarm: 22' which :is joihedtotGne.end-ofthe .fusible link 2.! Theeother end 1 of :the .fusible. link is so joined .toxthe lever I I that the' downward'rthrusttof the plunger stem .28 on: the; latch lever.s.26:is: transmitted through :the [mechanical linkage: and: the iusiblealinka to exertia". force holding theeva'lve close'dz. Adjustiment of the parts is?suohtsthati.this.:condition:is obtained without". the 'pIungerLZBi exerting; .any force-on the fire extinguishing :fluitt-soz' thatithere is only a. nominal internal. pressure against the valvemember Is as: long as: the fusibledi-rik.is

intact.

Upon being heated: beyondits'."fusing ipoint; the fusible link- 21 'partsgitherebyreleasingg the :latch lever 2'5 and permittingthe springsa32 lad-exert a".- downwardforce'on the:.plunger 28; .At the sametime, the valve vis-released so. that the. fire extinguishing fluidznow under pressure: is forced out: of the tube l3-into the adapter housing: 2 and housing I. The'movementiofithe valveimem ber I 6 may be limited lso that when -itfmovesifto itsjopen' position" it tends to' act as a' deflecting member to spray-"the fire extinguishingrfiuidiand.

thereby increase its effectiveness. I a

Many other. embodiments of't'he invention may 'be' resorted to without departing f-romi-thei spirit oftheinvention;

I clair-n'z' H I 1 M 1; 'Thecombinationwith a moving picture projector having a film handlin mechanism and a housing therefor, o'f a fire extinguisher; comprising: azre'se'rvoiradapted w contain a fire ex tin-k guish-ing" fluid mounted in proximity to said hou's ing, a flexible conduit communicating between said'reservoir and said housing; a'-valve within said housing initially closing said conduit, means,

for applying pressure to the fire-extinguishing fluid within said reservoir, 'a latch for-restrainfiingsaid 'means whereldy said fluid is substantially pressure free, a mechanicallin'kage communicat ing between said latch and said valve through' a wall of said housingandholding saidvalve 'in 'its' initial or sealing; positioh, and 'anfuSible link in The i The springs 32 extend downwardly;- alongthe sides of the reservoir [I and are atcorporated in said mechanical linkage and located in said housing in proximity to the film therein, whereby upon fusing of said link said mechanical linkage releases said latch.

2. The combination with a moving picture projector having a film handling mechanism and a housing therefor, of a fire extinguisher,'comprissaid housing initially. closing said conduit, a piston slidable in said reservoir, springs for urging said piston against said fluid, a latch for restrain in said" springs whereby said fluid is substantially pressure free, a mechanical linkage communicating between said latch and said valve throughazwall of said housing and holding said valve..closingfsaid conduit at said point; of ap' plication, means for applying pressureto the fluid in said reservoir, .a device for restrainingsaid meansiwherebysaid:fluidiis:substantiallyspressure freezmeichanicalrlinkage extending between. said device and .a point. adjacent .saidr'ivalv'eg-and a fusible: element connected with" Tsaidiva1veand with said linkage to hold said. valve clo'sed ran'd said fluid ireezofipressurezwhile'said fusible ele mentis intactr.

4. .Aflre extinguisher comp-rising: 1 a reservoir for: fire extinguishing .fluid, a: conduit leading therefrom to aipoint .of.'applica;tion, avalve' closing said. -conduit at said oint of application, a pistonrsslidablewin said reservoir, springs for urg: ingvsai'd piston against isaid fluid, a latch tori restraining said springs, mechanical linkagez inicludingta. fusible element extending between said lawman- 1 said-i'valve .tto': hold :said' valve' closed and said1fluid: free: of pressure while said fusible ele ment is intact. i 3 I :5; Theicombin ation with amoving picturelprojetctorszhaving a film" handling mechanism and -a housing therefor, of a fire extinguisher compris ing:"a reservoir adapted tocontai'nia fire extingfuishing material and mounted in proximity to said housing; at flexible conduit communicating between'said reservoir and said housing; a valve withinisaid housing -for closing said conduit; a spring-actuated instrumentalitv for applying pressureito the contents of said reservoir; means connecting-said instrumentality and saidval've' to holdisaid valve ina. closed position and to restrain said spring-actuated instrumentality whereby said fluid is substantially pressur free; anda fusible link'formingfian element o'f said means and'exposed itmthe filmfhandl'edjby -said mechanism, said means adaptediupon fusing of saidlink' to'release said valve'an d said instrumentality;

I DOFNALD "SOPERE. 

